Historical Thinking Skills Mr. Johnson – APUSH

Analysis Evaluate the P.O.V., purpose, audience, significance and reliability of a source.

Analysis

Interpretation Understand and assess varying opinions on the meaning of evidence or events.

Interpretation

Comparison Evaluate similarities and differences within or across geography and chronology.

Comparison

Periodization Understand and evaluate why history is divided into distinct eras with definite start and end dates.

Periodization

Contextualization Connect events and processes to broader circumstances; situate events within the “bigger picture.”

Contextualization

Causation Explain and evaluate long and short term factors – both predictable and unexpected – which lead to events occurring.

Causation

Continuity & Change Identify and evaluate consistent patterns as well as alterations to those patterns over time.

Continuity & Change

Argumentation Articulate a compelling thesis and support it with multiple kinds of evidence while acknowledging contradictory perspectives.

Argumentation

Synthesis Make connections between various contexts, periods, themes and disciplines.

Synthesis Health Economics Ethics History Science Politics GMOs